Breaking the Wall Podcast

Social media makes it easier than ever for us to connect, communicate, and share. These days, you're more likely to get some to reply to your DM than an email. Being able to communicate effectively and create positive relationships in your DM's is a great way to utilize this tool. In this episode, Brandon talk about when, why, and how to reach out in the DM's. Past that, he also tal...

When I coach dancers, many of them wonder if they should separate their personal and professional lives on social media. I understand the desire to do so BUT labeling our accounts as only one thing, limits the sharing possibilities and doesn't represent us as whole people. These day's, directors are not only hiring dancers/teachers/choreographers for their talents but also for their pers...

The best art reflects the times and society. I also think that the best art challenges the times and society. Dancers (and artists in general) have a responsibility to create spaces that support creativity, new ideas, and reflect our community. In this episode, Brandon shares four ways to make your social media accounts more inclusive. Making changes like, sharing your pronouns, capitalizing each...

We've made it to the end of our 4 part Utilizing Instagram series and in this episode we are talking about one of IG's newest features, reels! These are a great way to engage with the social media sight because the add an editing element that was missing in the past. In this episode, Brandon will share three types of reels that dancers should be creating and sharing. There are a lot of ...

Social MAY-dia continues and today we are diving into part three of our Utilizing Instagram series. Stories are a great way to take followers into your day-to-day lives. It gives everyone the opportunity to be the star of their own reality show. What makes stories even better is that they create easy access for people to connect. In this episode, Brandon talks about ways we can utilize stories as...

As Social MAY-dia continues, we bring you part two of four in our Utilizing Instagram series. Some dancers don't know what to post and some get annoyed or frustrated that they need to be posting at all! In this episode, Brandon talks about what makes a good IG post and what dancer's should focus on as the use Instagram. He talks about the power of good quality videos, images, and caption...

We are celebrating Social MAY-dia over here at Breaking the Wall Podcast! All month long, look out for 8 new episodes focused on how dancers can better use these online platforms. How can make them personal, interesting, and enjoyable to use. My goal is to make using social media less of a chore and more of a thing you enjoy. In this episode (Part 1 of 4), Brandon talks about how Instagram is a gr...

In reference to @Garyvee's viral call to action to new graduates, people between the ages of 22-26 have the most time, energy, and lack of responsibilities they will ever have in their lives. Therefore, the first five years of you creative/artistic lives are the best time to dream big and take risks. In this episode, Brandon outlines the first five years of his post grad life and the risks he...

In every other industry outside of dance, interviewing or auditioning for a position is free for the person applying. In some cases, companies pay people to audition for them. Somehow, the  charging  dancers audition/application fees has become a common practice in our community. In this episode, Brandon talks about why he's resistant to paying audition fees. This year hit the arts (and speci...

When we think of how we invest in our careers, we may think about all the time and energy we've put in to get to where we are. However, there's something to be said about investing with money. In the dance industry, money can be tight for a lot of dancers but when we invest our money in the right places (and the right people), we can see incredible returns. In this episode, Brandon talks...

In college we are told to "get good at auditioning" or "auditioning will be your job." But what happens when you are already booked and another opportunity is presented to you? You might feel inspired to go and "just be seen" or use it as a "networking opportunity." Before you show up and put on that number, theres a few things and alternatives you should co...

People LOVE asking dancers to work for zero to no money. And when I say people, I'm talking about directors, choreographers, and other people who want to exploit a dancers love for their career. Advocating for fare pay for dancers is a must, but what do you do in situations when money is limited? What should we consider to be a fair payment for our expertise and services? In this episode, Bra...

As many of us found our social media scrolling time increase in the last year, we may have also found ourselves comparing ourselves even more to our peers. Sometimes it can feel like everyone else is working or doing big things and meanwhile we feel stuck, unsuccessful, or unhappy with how we are spending our time. In this episode, Brandon talks about his own struggle with the comparison trap and...

It's audition season and I know you're all working hard to book jobs from other people. However, what do we do when no one is offering us a job? Answer: We build the job ourselves! Many of us think of our careers happening in this order: Dancer ---> Choreographer ---> Teacher. However, each of these take years of practice and play to master. What we need to do is start investigatin...

Job descriptions for these types of positions vary from company to company. Unfortunately, many of these positions are unpaid and many dancers agree to them without understanding the responsibilities that they include. What questions do we need to ask and how do we make sure we have all the information we need to make good and informed decisions. In this episode, Brandon explains the benefits and...

When you're growing up, it's normal to hear "You can do anything you want in life!" But there's a moment (or a few  moments) when you're approaching adulthood that your parents start asking what "actual" plans you have for the future. It's not easy to dive into a career in dance but convincing your parents you're going to make it work is a challeng...

More often than not, dancers find themselves lacking the financial education they need to generate wealth in their lives. Although many dancers have consistent income throughout their careers, they lack the skills the manage their money and understand how their money comes in and out. In this episode, Brandon will introduce B-A-S-E, which is a framework designed to help dancers build healthy money...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to run its course, companies and shows are utilizing virtual auditions and video submissions more than ever. Many of these institutions are strongly considering permanent implementation of these practices moving forward. Even after the pandemic comes to an end. Slating is a short introduction which usually  includes your name, agency, and other basic info about y...

Making a performance reel is a right of passage for dancers as they approach graduation. Some people edit and create new reels for every audition they submit for. We want to present ourselves in the best light but don't always know how to put our reels together. What do casting and artistic directors want to see? What's a good length and how do we pick the right footage. In this episode,...

Gig work is super popular right now and a great way to make some cash in a short amount of time. Sometimes, details can get lost in translation when you're accepting a job and you might be signing up for more than you thought (or less when it comes to money). In this episode, Brandon will three money questions you should ask before you accept a gig: Whats the pay? Whats the time commitment? W...

You may be seeing "2 years professional experience required" on a handful of audition postings. The truth is, dancers are booking these jobs without meeting this requirement. So why not you? In this episode, Brandon will explain how he made the jump from dancing like a student, to dancing like a professional. Many collegiate dance programs prepare dancers to be strong technicians and hel...

We are accepting all questions through the Breaking the Wall Podcast Instagram page! Last week, a dancer wanted to know: "What books do we recommend for early career artist?" Check out these MUST READ books and hear Brandon's thoughts about them in the episode! I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, PhD Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert If you have a...

Setting your rate is such a challenge! With every studio facing challenges and costs of business, we need to keep our rate fluid and changing on a case-by-case basis. How do you put a numerical value on your teaching ability? At first, talking about money can feel weird or uncomfortable, but we have to be able to articulate how much our time and knowledge are worth. More importantly, we need to be...

The covid pandemic really turned the dance industry upside down and in March of 2020, dance teachers around the world moved to teaching virtually. Some chose to share their class via social media like Facebook or Instagram, while others brought their class to Zoom. Anyway, they chose to do it, teaching online provided greater accessibility to dancers who wouldn't have the opportunity to take...

Brandon in no stranger to the side hustle. He worked at a late night jobs at a pizza shop, walked dogs, sold his plasma, served ice cream, and delivered wine by foot.  In this episode, he'll talk to you about the importance of finding a side hustle that works for you and your life. As dancers, we are resourceful and creative. How can we make use we utilize the time we have and make the money...